Early Music Now is a one-hour program showcasing music from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and early Baroque: from sonorous medieval chant and polyphony to delightful Renaissance madrigals, dances, and consort music, to magnificent Baroque cantatas and keyboard music. Host Sara Schneider brings knowledge, charm and passion to her presentation of seven hundred years of music history. From the latest recordings by today's vibrant young ensembles, to classics from the dawn of the early music revival, Early Music Now makes this repertoire accessible and enjoyable to a wide audience.
Three Wise Men from the East: Epiphany celebrates the arrival of the Three Kings with their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.This week we'll hear music for Epiphany including 11th century chant and polyphony performed by Ensemble Gilles Binchois, Tribus Miraculis, a motet by Costanzo Festa featuring the Huelgas Ensemble, along with works by Sweelinck and Lassus.
The Romance of the Rose: Le Roman de la Rose, written in two stages in the thirteenth century, was widely read, copied and translated, and remained popular into the sixteenth century. This week's show presents a companion CD of love songs which parallel the allegorical tale, performed by Per-Sonat, with soloist Sabine Lutzenberger.
Music from the Most Serene Republic: We're traveling to Venice this week to hear from composers who lived and worked there, including Alessandro Grandi with his motets sung by the Accademia d'Arcadia. We'll also hear Monteverdi's Gloria from Selva Morale e Spirituale, along with instrumental pieces by Dario Castello, one of Monteverdi's colleagues at San Marco.
Praetorius and Sartorius: Paul Schneider, also known as Sartorius, was born in Nuremberg in 1569, and became court organist at Innsbruck. We'll hear selections from his sacred works performed by the Marini Consort of Innsbruck, along with music by his German contemporary, Michael Praetorius.